Pilot programs at Netflix and Good Technologies have proved successful for Near-Field Communication technology, including access control via smartphone.
Taking advantage of an alleged vulnerability in DC power ports, Cody Brocious's technology could potentially access any of four to five million hotel rooms nationwide.
When security integrator Stanley Security Solutions announced plans last year to purchase fellow security integrator Niscayah, one of the largest global security firms in Europe and the U.S., for $1.2 billion, the move shook the very core of the security integrator space. The acquisition was large, to say the least: with it, Stanley Security Solutions increases its global presence, and its North American team greatly increased. There are more installation technicians, service specialists, branch employees, supervisors and team leaders. It created a much larger business, growing 30 percent in overall U.S. associates since January 2011.
I was searching my email outbox archives the other day and I ran across a column that I’d written a few years ago about the use of video and integrated security systems. I was adamant that a camera be ruled out for an access control solution versus considering it as an optional feature. I still maintain that assertion. I’m not saying that every door should have a camera – every door should be considered for one – as an integrated component of your access control system.
Optical turnstiles are viewed as a growing trend in entrance control, currently dominating the speedgate market, according to IMS Research. As a security measure, optical turnstiles restrict or control access to a building or secured area.
I’m always amazed at how many of my colleagues still rely on a significant amount of manual data entry to their access control systems. Often, a large amount of employee information is entered at the badging station or after-the-fact at the security office.
At this summer’s Google I/O meeting, attendees were given a sneak peek at Android@Home, a project Google has been working on that will let us control everything in our home right from our Android phones.
